aquaplaning-when does aquaplaning occur-what is aquaplaning?

A veces, las tormentas tornan el asfalto en río. Los cumulonimbos estallan y  a su paso dejan a nuestro coche “flotando a la deriva”. Este es el fenómeno conocido como aquaplaning. Pero, ¿cuándo y por qué se produce el aquaplaning? ¿Realmente podemos hacer algo para evitarlo?

We already know that weather conditions affect our normal driving performance. It is true that heavy rains do not help our road safety. For starters, because our tires do not adhere the same than dry. But not everything is left to external factors. There is still room for caution on the road.

The dangerous phenomenon of aquaplaning is the gradual loss of contact between the tire and the road surface. Basically, this effect is caused by the entry of a thin layer of water, more than half a millimeter, between the tire and the asphalt.

Aquaplaning occurs because the channels forming the tire tread are not capable of evacuating the water it treads on. Then we have the feeling that our car is literally floating. If we drive slowly, the water will be able to drain out of the tire channels. Thus, by giving it time to evacuate, we avoid the formation of the wedge of water through which we are sliding. Thereforethe speed at which we drive will influence the release of water from our wheels. or not. The higher the speed, the lower the possibility of evacuation.

In addition, the wider the tire, the more water it treads on and therefore the more water it needs to evacuate. In conclusion, tire width is directly related to the probability of aquaplaning.

Another aspect to consider is the size of the evacuation channels and the design of the tire tread . The smaller they are, the greater the risk of aquaplaning. A new tire has a depth of about 1 cm. However, a tire, halfway through its service life, has reduced the size of its evacuation channels by half.

Therefore, if we drive at a high speed, with wide tires and with worn drainage channels, we will suffer from aquaplaning under all circumstances.

In summary, according to the driving experts at Fran Velasco Driving School, the answer to when aquaplaning occurs is as follows:

"Aquaplaning occurs when the tire is not able to evacuate the water that accumulates in front of it when turning. Tires must evacuate approximately 5 to 10 liters of water per second. So when they are not able to do so, the water sits under the tire raising it and the driver loses control of the vehicle."

If you begin to notice aquaplaning (the sensation of floating on the surface of the water) there are certain tips to follow according to Fran Velasco Driving School:

• You must stop accelerating and not move the steering wheel (as long as there is no loss of initial trajectory).
• You should not brake sharply so as not to shift the weight application point forward and increase the likelihood of oversteer. However, if you cannot avoid oversteer and it occurs, you should reduce speed to allow time for the tire tread to channel the water to the sides circumferentially.
• If there is water on only one side of the roadway, try to avoid it (within the regulations).
• Tire care is essential. In fact, tires must have the right pressure. It is not advisable to reduce the pressure, as it reduces grip and increases drifting (transverse movements) and, therefore, the probability of aquaplaning.
• In addition, it is recommended that the tires have an adequate tread pattern. The minimum is 1.6 mm in the tread grooves. However, in heavy rain, even with 2 mm of tread depth a car can aquaplaning at speeds around 60-70 km/h.

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